Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 PORTLAND, Ore. - The Simpson softball team got back in the win column today as they swept the opening day of play against Warner Pacific, 7-0 and 3-1.
Simpson starter
Jacquelyn Lujan dominated in the circle as she fired a complete game shutout victory while surrendering two hits and punching out 11 batters. Lujan began the game by striking out the first five Knights.
A leadoff double by
Nayzeth Gonzalez to begin the ball game got the Red Hawks rolling as
Nicolena Holen came through with a two-run single in the first.
Simpson added a pair of runs in the third inning as
Kassandra Soria and
Grace Chojnacki each posted RBI doubles.
This proved to be more than enough for Lujan before the Red Hawks added three more insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to close out the 7-0 game one victory.
Brianna Lopez-Cortez led the Simpson bats with a three-for-five game while Gonzalez, Holen, Chojnacki, and Soria all posted two-hit performances.
Game 2:
Simpson completed the day one sweep behind starter Grace Chojacki as she earned the complete game victory on the mound.
Chojnacki and her counterpart Kaylee Pokorny remained locked in a pitchers' duel for most of the second game as the Red Hawks drew first blood in the first inning on a clutch two-out RBI single by Soria.
The Knights tied the game in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double into the right-center gap by Brylee-Rose Demello.
The Red Hawks broke through in the top of the fifth inning as Lopez-Cortez blasted her fourth long ball of the year to give Simpson the 3-1 lead.
Chojnacki preserved the 3-1 victory as she scattered six hits over 7.0 innings of work while surrendering one run.
Lopez-Cortez swung the hot bat for Simpson as she added two more hits on the day, including a game-changing two-run blast.
Lujan and Chojnacki dominated in the circle as they allowed one run all day while striking out 20 batters to go along with flawless defensive work behind them.
With the two wins, Simpson holds the sixth playoff spot in the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings.
First pitch for tomorrow's twin-bill is set for 10 am as the Red Hawks wrap up the four-game series with the Knights.
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